Abstract:
Straw as an agricultural by-product is renewable, regionally available and can be compacted high enough to withstand high mechanical loads with an comparatively low primary energy input. Using straw as a building material creates both sustainable and durable buildings that meet the highest energy standards and enable comfortable, natural living. The presentation gives a brief insight into the historical development of straw bale construction, previous and current research on the mechanical, physical and biological properties of straw bales, special issues in planning and construction as well as challenges on the way to further popularity.
Short bio:
Christopher Taube studied civil engineering with a specialization on structural engineering in Weimar and Dresden. He is a research associate and PhD student at the chair of Modeling and Simulation of Structures in the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar and gives lectures in various courses on structural design and reinforced concrete structures in the bachelor and master Programmes in civil engineering. Since 2020 he has also been researching on the mechanical properties of highly compacted straw bales and their potential as load-bearing building material